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Packing & Zen - A List for the Enlightened |
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Some people see packing as a form of Zen Buddhism.
Advising you what to take, they adopt a serene and mysterious smile and offer
up words of wisdom such as "Set aside what you need, then take half of that."
They're the smug ones at the queue for check-in who announce, as you lumber up
with your half a dozen suitcases, that they have one change of T-shirt, two pairs of
socks and two pairs of pants.
But don't be fooled by the Zen Packists' calm exterior -
while you're relaxing at the beach, they'll be washing their
smalls in a hand basin the size of the average man's armpit,
and they'll soon be weighed down by a huge box of Daz.
If you are going on holiday soon (rather than long-term travelling / backpacking),
you might find the following checklist useful.
(Please note: this list and others on this page are not intended to be completely
exhaustive - after all, only you know where you are going and how long for! We've omitted
listing most clothes and concentrated on the extras, which you might have overlooked.)
| Documents and Money |
| Address book |
Passport |
| Credit and debit cards |
Photocopies of documents |
| Emergency telephone numbers |
Student card |
| Hostel card |
Tickets |
| Insurance documents, E111 |
Travellers’ cheques |
| Money and money belt |
Visas |
| Entertainments and Guides |
| Binoculars |
Language guide |
| Books |
Magazines |
| Camcorder, camcorder batteries |
Map |
| Camera |
Pen / pencil |
| Camera film |
Travel guide |
| Diary, notepad |
Walkman |
| Looking After Yourself |
| After sun, suntan lotion |
Lip Balm |
| Alcohol pads / germ killers |
Make up |
| Antihistamine |
Mirror |
| Aspirin / paracetamol |
Nail clippers, files* |
| Bandages, sticking plasters |
Pepto Bismol |
| Birth control, condoms |
Prescription medicines |
| Cotton buds, cotton wool |
Razor, shaving foam |
| Deodorant |
Shampoo, conditioner, hair gel etc. |
| Earplugs |
Soap |
| Feminine hygiene products |
Toilet paper |
| Flannel, sponge |
Toothbrush, toothpaste |
| Hairbrush, hairdryer |
Tweezers |
| Hayfever tablets |
Vaccination certificates |
| Insect repellent, mosquito net |
Vitamin pills |
| Relating to Clothes |
| Bag for dirty washing |
Sewing kit |
| Clothes hangers |
Shoes – for walking and eating out |
| Flip-flops / sandals |
Swimwear, swimming goggles |
| Hats – sun / woolly |
Sunglasses |
| Pegs, travel clothes line |
Travel iron |
| Safety pins |
Travel wash |
| Other |
| Bottle and can opener * |
Sink stopper |
| Compass |
Swiss Army knife* |
| Ear plugs and sleep mask |
Towels |
| Flashlight |
Travel clock |
| Hot water bottle |
Travel pillow |
| Knife*, fork, spoon, plate, cup |
Water bottle |
* If you wish to take any of these items, find out your airline's security policy in advance.
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Pack
it in Kids! - A Checklist for Parents |
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Getting children involved in packing before
going away can make them feel very grown up and part of the
whole holiday experience. And deciding which ted has been
good enough to deserve some time in the sun and inclusion
in the obligatory, ironic “Ted in Front of the Statue
of Liberty” or “Ted and the Eiffel Tower”
photo can be fun. However, if Barbie and Ken are coming and
their suitcases are too full to shut, you should take it as
a sign that packing is a task that your child is not quite
ready for yet.
If you’re travelling with children, you might like
to use the following checklist. Use it in conjunction with
the general checklist shown above.
| Entertainment |
| Beach ball |
Buoyancy aids e.g. armbands |
| Bedtime story books |
Fishing net |
| Bucket and spade |
Toys and favourite ted! |
| Feeding / Changing |
| Beakers |
Kitchen roll, tissues |
| Bibs |
Measuring spoons, formula powder etc. |
| Bottles, bottle brushes, teats, etc. |
Portable high chair |
| Changing bag |
Travel potty |
| Disposable nappies, baby wipes etc. |
Waterproof bed protector |
| Looking After the Little Ones |
| Baby monitor and batteries |
Inflatable baby bath |
| Baby powder |
Shade protection for your pushchair |
| Calamine lotion |
Sick bags, travel sickness pills |
| Calpol / Tylenol |
Thermometer |
| Other |
| Beach / pool shoes |
Pushchair |
| Car seat and sunshade |
Travel cot and bedding |
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How to Pack in Five Easy Stages |
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| As a rule, there are five stages to the packing process.
1. You pack.
2. You repack after unsuccessfully trying to lift your suitcase off the bed / floor.
3. Your second repack usually happens at some ungodly hour
on the morning of your flight. It's often necessitated by
having emptied the contents of your case all over the floor
in an exasperated search for toothpaste or shaving foam.
4. Your third repack takes place
just after you arrive at the airport.
It may be brought on by the sudden
realisation that your excess baggage
will end up costing you more than
the original price of your flight.
Your hand luggage will suddenly grow
like an over-indulgent dwarf - expanding
massively in weight but not so much
in size. Then, you'll practise looking
comfortable as the shoulder strap
of your handbag digs into your flesh,
and vainly hope that the ticket agent
mistakes your 5kg hiking boots for
perfume because you've stuffed them
into a duty free carrier bag.
5. The fourth and final repack occurs
at the X-ray machine. Unlike the previous
stages, this unpack will be performed
by somebody else - Security - and
the repack will happen very fast.
The rapid increase in packing speed
can be put down to the natural human
response to having one's underwear
on public display.
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Top Ten Packing Tips |
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| Follow these tips to prevent packing from becoming a bit of a nightmare:
1. Look for sample-size containers of shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste to take with you.
2. Put bottles containing liquids inside plastic bags in case they explode on the flight.
3. Roll your clothes, don't fold them - it causes less creases.
4. Take a few plastic bags to hold dirty laundry.
5. If you are thinking of doing any clothes washing on your hols, remember that cotton takes longer to dry than synthetics.
6. Don't fill your suitcase to the
brim on your outward journey; you
will inevitably come back with a few
presents and souvenirs.
7. If you are travelling with a companion, pack some of your belongings in each other's bags. If one of your cases goes missing, you'll still have a few things to wear until you recover your lost belongings. If you are travelling alone, pack enough clothes to last the first two days of your holiday in your hand luggage in case your main luggage gets lost on the flight.
8. Remove all old airline tags
(keep them somewhere else if they
have sentimental value!) and put
a brightly coloured luggage strap
around your case so you can easily
spot it on the luggage carousel.
9. Put locks / tie-ups on your case to make it more difficult for dishonest airport employees (and others) to take things from your bags.
10. Since September 11th, airlines
have become stricter about the amount
of hand luggage you can take, and
certain items e.g. knives, can openers
and nail files may be prohibited.
You may be able to pack sharp items
in your main luggage, which will be
put into the hold. However, find out
your airline's security regulations
before you go.
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